Ladder holder



Dec. 12, 1961 w. ZUMBAUM 3,012,628

LADDER HOLDER Filed Aug. 26, 1959 William Zumboum IN VEN TOR.

ite Stat =s Pa 9- 3,012628 LADDER HOLDER William Zumbaum, Rte. 1, Galatia, III. Filed Aug. 26, 1959, Ser. N0. 836,144 3 Claims. (Cl. 182-472) This invention relates to new and useful improvemen:s in holders or supports particularly'although no-t necessarily, for stepladders and has for its primary object to provide, in a mariner as hefeiriafter set forth, novel means for positively bracing such ladders laterally for preventing tipping-over thereof.

Another very important object of the present invention is to provide a lateral brace or holder of the aforementioned character comprising novel means for eX- peditiously mounting the device on the ladder.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide an a-ttachrnent of the character Set forth which is readily adjustable for use on ladders of various dimensions and types.

Another object cf the present invention is to provide a holder or brace of the character set forth which may be left in position an the ladder when it is not in use.

Other objects cf the invention are to provide a ladder holder 01' brace which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, cf light weight and which may be manufactured at 10W cost.

These together Wlti'l other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forrning a part hereof, whe'rein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, showing the lower portion of a ladder equipped with a pair of holders coustructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in horizontal section on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the mounting clamps, showing the cornponent parts separated.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference character 4 designates generally the lower portion of a conventional stepladder. The stepladder 4 includes the usual side rails 5 having mounted therebetween steps 6.

The embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises substantially similar upper and lower clamps 7 and 8, respectively, adapted to be removably and adjustably secured at vertically spaced points on either of the side rails 5 of the ladder 4.

Bach of the clamps 7 and 8 includes a substantially rectangular, vertical metallic plate 9 having mounted thereon a generally U-shaped guide 10. The guide 10 includes end flanges 11 which are apertured, as indicated at 12, to receive bolts 13 for securing said guide 0n the plate 9, the corner portions of said plate having openings 14 therein accommodating said bolts.

Slidably mounted in the guide 10 is a pair of opposed, generally U-shaped end-abutting brackets 15. A pair of opposed, generally L-shaped jaws 16 are fixed on the bight portions of the brackets 15 for receiving and gripping the ladder rail therebetween. The jaws 16 comprise faces 17 of rubber or other suitable material for engagement with the ladder rail. A coil spring 18 is secured under tension to the bight portions of the brackets 15 for yieldingly closing the jaws 16 on the ladder rail.

Mounted for universal adjustment on the lower clamp 8 is an elongated base 19 of wood or other suitable material. One end portion of the el0ngated base 19 is counected to the plate 9 of the lower clamp 8 by means 2 coxhprising a hinge 20. One leaf cf the hinge 2Q is seeureid 'to the base 19. Theother leafof the hin'ge'i20 is pivota lly seeured at 21 an the plate 9 of the lower clamp 8. Th1i's, the base 19 is rotatbly rnounted on the lower elarnp 8 to compen' sate for the inclination bf the d 4- 1 j J 1 1 A teliescopical ly adjustabl bra ce 22 connectsth free end portion of the base 19 to t he upp r clamp 7. The braoe 22 includes x'nale and'female sections 23 a'nd 24, respeetiVely. The adjustment ofthe sectiqi1s 23and 24 issecure d thrpugh the nge lium of a cc tter p in 25 mounted in the sec'tion24 and engageable selectivel'y in spaeed openings 26p'rovidzd therefor in said section '23. The lower end portion of the brace 22 is pivotally secured at 27 to one of the leaves 28 cf a hinge 29 011 the free end portion of the base 19. The upper end ortion of the brace 22 is pivotally secured at 30 to the plate 9 of the upper clamp 7.

It is thought that the use of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Preferably, but not necessarily, two 0f the devices are used 011 the ladder 4, one on each of the side rails 5, as shown. T0 secure the upper and lower clamps 7 and 8 in position on the side rails 5, the opposed, coacting jaws 16 are opened against the tension of the springs 18 for receiving said side rails therebetween. Of course, when the jaws 16 are released the springs 18 immediately close said jaws on the ladder rails. The adjustability of the upper clamps 7 and the telescopic braces 22 perrnits the angle of the bases 19 relative to the side rails 5 to be varied as desired. These adjustments also facilitate the mounting of the device on various types and sizes of ladders. The pivotal connections 21 and 27 allow the bases 19 to rotate in a manner to lie flat on a supporting surface regardless of the inclination of the ladder. When the invention is n0t in use the clamps 7 are mdved upwardly on the ladder to swing the bases 19 upwardly to closed or imperative position adjacent the rails 5.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the a1't, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as clairned. 3

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A ladder attachment cornprising: substantially similar upper and lower clamps mountedfor vertical sliding adjustrnent on one of the rails of the ladder, said clamps including plates and generally U-shaped guides mounted on said plates, pairs of generally U-shaped, inwardly opening brackets slidable in the guides, generally L- shaped, opposed jaws on the bight portion of said brackets for receiving and gripping the ladder rail therebetween, tensioned springs within the confines of the brackets and connected to said bight portions th'ereof for closing the jaws on the ladder rail, a base hingedly mounted for vertical swinging movement on the lower clamp and engageable with a supporting surface, and a brace having its end portions pivotally connected to said base and to the upper clamp.

2. A ladder attachment comprising: a clamp mounted on the lower end portion of a rail of the ladder, said clamp including a pair of opposed, slidably mounted,

spring actuated jaws -for receiving and gripping the ladder rail therebetween, an elongated base having one end hingedlY and pivotally secured to the clamp for vertical ing surface, a brace pivotally connected to the other end Portion cf the base, and means connecting the other end of the brace to the ladder rail for pivotal and sliding adjustrnent.

3. A ladder attachrnent cornprising upper and lower clamps mounted on one of the rails of the ladder, an elongated base hingedly and pivotally connected at one end to the lower clamp for vertical swinging movement and for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a brace having one end pivotally connected to the upper clamp, anti means operatively cqnnecting said brace to the base, said rneans including a hinge leaf rn0unted for vertical swingir1g movement on the free end portion of the base With its axis transverse thereto, said brace comprising telescopically adjustable sections, and a longitudinal pivot connecting the outer end of one of the sections to the hingle leaf for lateral swinging movement.-

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS France Sept. 12, 1902 

